Infective Endocarditis is a serious and life-threatening infection that can develop when bacteria enter the bloodstream during certain dental procedures, particularly in patients with underlying cardiac risk factors. To reduce this risk, the American Heart Association issued antibiotic prophylaxis recommendations in 2007 for selected high-risk individuals. Despite these clear guidelines, variations in knowledge and clinical compliance among dental professionals may result in inappropriate or inconsistent preventive practices. The present study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, awareness, and actual clinical application of antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis among dental practitioners. A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a structured and pre-validated questionnaire that assessed participants’ understanding of infective endocarditis, recognition of high-risk cardiac conditions, familiarity with current prophylaxis guidelines, and their translation into everyday dental practice. The collected data were subjected to suitable descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. The findings revealed considerable variability in knowledge and awareness, with many respondents demonstrating partial or incorrect understanding of guideline-recommended indications and antibiotic regimens. Although most participants were aware of the concept of antibiotic prophylaxis, notable discrepancies were observed between theoretical knowledge and its implementation in clinical practice. These results highlight important gaps in guideline adherence and underscore the need for ongoing continuing dental education, regular updates on clinical guidelines, and strengthened emphasis on evidence-based practice to improve compliance and ensure patient safety.
Mayuresh Gagare*1, Manish Bansode, Namdev Goral, Dr. Suryakant Metkari2 (Sun,) studied this question.